Psalm 150
Psalm 150, Let All Things Praise the LORD
Scripture Text
Psalm 150:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.”
Psalm 150:2, “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
Psalm 150:3, “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.”
Psalm 150:4, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”
Psalm 150:5, “Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.”
Psalm 150:6, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Introduction
Psalm 150 is the final psalm in the Book of Psalms. Each of the five divisions of the Psalter closes with a doxology, but Psalm 150 functions as the great final doxology of the entire collection. It is short, direct, full, and fitting. After every lament, confession, battle, prayer, sorrow, repentance, deliverance, instruction, and hope found throughout the Psalms, the book ends with pure praise.
The Psalter begins with blessing.
Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in counsel of ungodly, nor standeth in way of sinners, nor sitteth in seat of scornful.”
The Psalter ends with Hallelujah.
Psalm 150:6, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
This movement is important. The blessed man of Psalm 1 is finally brought into the praising creation of Psalm 150. The life that begins with delight in the law of the LORD ends in full praise to the LORD. The righteous life is not merely moral restraint. It is worship. It moves toward Hallelujah.
Psalm 150 contains no complaint, no enemies, no confession of sin, no request for deliverance, no argument, and no long explanation. It is a summons. It calls for unlimited praise to the unlimited God. It answers four great questions. Where should God be praised? Everywhere, in His sanctuary and in the firmament of His power. Why should God be praised? For His mighty acts and according to His excellent greatness. How should God be praised? With every fitting expression, trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, dance, strings, organs, and cymbals. Who should praise God? Everything that has breath.
Psalm 150 is therefore a fitting close to the Psalter and a prophecy of the final end of redeemed life. God’s people may pass through tears, repentance, persecution, exile, suffering, and warfare, but the final word is praise. The whole book has been teaching the soul to pray, trust, repent, obey, hope, and worship. Psalm 150 gathers it all into one final command, “Praise ye the LORD.”
A. Unlimited Praise to the God Who Is Unlimited in His Greatness
1. Psalm 150:1, In Every Place, Praise the LORD
Psalm 150:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.”
The psalm opens with “Praise ye the LORD.” This is Hallelujah. It is both a command and a declaration. The people of God are commanded to praise Yahweh, and the psalm itself becomes an act of praise.
This final psalm begins the same way the previous four began. Psalms 146 through 150 all begin and end with Hallelujah. The Psalter closes with repeated praise because the LORD is worthy of repeated praise. No single Hallelujah is enough. As soon as one praise ends, another begins.
The first place where God is to be praised is “in his sanctuary.” The sanctuary is the place set apart for worship, sacrifice, prayer, and the special recognition of God’s presence. In the Old Testament context, this points to the tabernacle and later the temple, where God appointed worship to be offered according to His command.
Psalm 96:6, “Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”
The sanctuary is fitting for praise because it is where God’s people gather before Him with reverence. It is where His holiness is acknowledged, His sacrifices are remembered, His word is honored, and His name is blessed.
Yet in the New Covenant, the sanctuary theme is fulfilled and expanded in Christ. Jesus is the true and greater meeting place between God and man. He is the true temple, the true sacrifice, and the true High Priest.
John 2:19, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
John 2:20, “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”
John 2:21, “But he spake of the temple of his body.”
Jesus spoke of His body as the temple. In Him, God’s presence dwells perfectly, and through Him sinners have access to God.
Christ also ministers in the heavenly sanctuary.
Hebrews 8:1, “Now of things which we have spoken this is sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on right hand of throne of Majesty in heavens;”
Hebrews 8:2, “A minister of sanctuary, and of true tabernacle, which Lord pitched, and not man.”
The believer’s praise is therefore offered through Christ, the High Priest of the true sanctuary.
The New Testament also teaches that the gathered people of God are His temple.
2 Corinthians 6:16, “And what agreement hath temple of God with idols? for ye are temple of living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall my people.”
The individual believer is also called the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are temple of God, and that Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Therefore, “Praise God in his sanctuary” teaches reverent praise in the place where God is worshiped, but under the New Covenant it also reminds the church that praise belongs wherever God dwells among His people by His Spirit through Christ.
The verse continues, “praise him in the firmament of his power.” The sanctuary points to the place of worship. The firmament points to the vast expanse of God’s creation. The praise of God must not be confined to one building or one location. The whole sky, the whole expanse, the whole created order under heaven is a theater for His praise.
Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare glory of God; and firmament sheweth his handywork.”
The firmament displays God’s power. Storms, winds, clouds, sunlight, stars, and the vast expanse above all declare His handiwork. If His glory fills creation, then His praise should fill creation.
This first verse teaches that God should be praised in every place. Praise Him in the sanctuary, and praise Him under the mighty firmament. Praise Him where His people gather, and praise Him wherever His power is displayed.
2. Psalm 150:2, For Every Reason, Praise the LORD
Psalm 150:2, “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
The psalm now gives the reasons for praise. First, “Praise him for his mighty acts.” God is to be praised for what He has done.
The mighty acts of God include creation, providence, judgment, deliverance, covenant faithfulness, the exodus, the giving of the land, the preservation of Israel, the raising of David, the restoration of Jerusalem, and every act of mercy toward His people.
Deuteronomy 3:24, “O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?”
God’s works display His might. His people are commanded to remember and praise Him for those works.
The greatest mighty act of God is the saving work of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. The psalmist saw these things from afar through promise and shadow, but the Christian sees them with greater fullness.
Romans 4:24, “But for us also, to whom it shall imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from dead;”
Romans 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
The resurrection of Christ is the supreme demonstration of God’s mighty saving power.
Ephesians 1:19, “And what exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to working of his mighty power,”
Ephesians 1:20, “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places,”
God’s mighty power was displayed in raising Christ from the dead. Therefore, the Christian has even greater reason to praise Him for His mighty acts.
The verse continues, “praise him according to his excellent greatness.” This moves from what God does to who God is. God is praised for His mighty acts, but He is also praised according to His excellent greatness.
His greatness is excellent, surpassing, majestic, infinite, and above all comparison. God’s works are mighty because God Himself is great. Praise should therefore rise according to His greatness, though no creature can ever fully match the worthiness of God.
Psalm 145:3, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”
God’s greatness is unsearchable. The believer can praise truly, but never exhaustively. Even eternity will not drain the reasons to praise God.
To praise Him “according to his excellent greatness” means that worship should be shaped by the greatness of God, not by the smallness of man’s emotions. The greater our understanding of God, the greater our praise should become. Shallow thoughts of God produce shallow worship. High thoughts of God produce reverent, joyful, strong praise.
3. Psalm 150:3 through Psalm 150:5, With Every Expression, Praise the LORD
Psalm 150:3, “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.”
The psalm now calls for praise with instruments. The first is “the sound of the trumpet.” The trumpet was associated with solemn, royal, and public events. It could announce war, worship, assembly, warning, jubilee, coronation, and divine action.
Numbers 10:10, “Also in day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Trumpets were used in worship and gladness before the LORD. Psalm 150 summons even the trumpet to praise Him.
The trumpet also points forward to future events connected with the coming of the Lord and the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:52, “In moment, in twinkling of eye, at last trump: for trumpet shall sound, and dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall changed.”
The trumpet reminds the believer that God’s praise belongs to the grandest moments of redemptive history.
The psalm also says, “praise him with the psaltery and harp.” These were stringed instruments used in Israel’s worship. David himself was a skilled musician, and the Levites used instruments in temple praise.
1 Chronicles 25:6, “All these were under hands of their father for song in house of LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for service of house of God, according to king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”
Stringed instruments were part of ordered, skillful worship. The psalm teaches that musical ability should be offered to God, not merely used for entertainment or self display.
Psalm 150:4, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”
The praise continues with “the timbrel and dance.” The timbrel was a percussion instrument, often associated with joyful celebration. Dance, in this context, refers to reverent, communal joy before the LORD, not sensual display or fleshly entertainment.
After the Red Sea deliverance, Miriam and the women of Israel praised the LORD with timbrels and dances.
Exodus 15:20, “And Miriam prophetess, sister of Aaron, took timbrel in her hand; and all women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”
Exodus 15:21, “And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; horse and his rider hath he thrown into sea.”
Their praise was rooted in deliverance. Psalm 150 calls for that kind of glad worship, joy that remembers the victory of God.
The verse also says, “praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” The word translated organs likely refers to pipes or wind instruments. The point is that every class of instrument is brought into the praise of God, brass, strings, percussion, and wind.
This does not mean worship should be chaotic, fleshly, or man centered. Scripture also commands order and reverence.
1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Psalm 150 calls for full praise, but praise governed by the honor of God.
Psalm 150:5, “Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.”
The psalm now reaches the loudest instruments, “the loud cymbals” and “the high sounding cymbals.” The praise is not timid. It is full, strong, and celebratory.
Cymbals were used in temple worship.
1 Chronicles 16:4, “And he appointed certain of Levites to minister before ark of LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise LORD God of Israel:”
1 Chronicles 16:5, “Asaph chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made sound with cymbals;”
The cymbals helped lead and strengthen corporate praise.
The broad list of instruments in Psalm 150 teaches that God is worthy of every fitting expression of praise. Priests, Levites, men, women, singers, musicians, and all worshipers are called to bring what they have to honor the LORD.
The instruments also show that worship involves the whole person and the whole community. Breath, voice, skill, hands, rhythm, sound, movement, and strength are all gathered into praise. The issue is not performance. The issue is God’s worthiness.
This section also reminds us that worship should not be lifeless. The God who created, redeemed, sustained, forgave, delivered, and reigns forever is not to be praised with cold indifference. Reverence and joy belong together.
4. Psalm 150:6, With Every Available Breath, Praise the LORD
Psalm 150:6, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
This is the fitting final verse of the psalm and of the entire Book of Psalms. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.” Everything that breathes owes praise to the One who gave breath.
Breath is a gift from God.
Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man dust of ground, and breathed into his nostrils breath of life; and man became living soul.”
Man lives because God gave breath. Therefore, breath should return to God in praise.
This also includes all living creatures. All life depends on God. Every breathing creature exists by His will, and all creation is moving toward the day when the praise of God will fill everything.
Revelation 5:13, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under earth, and such as are in sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, unto him that sitteth upon throne, and unto Lamb for ever and ever.”
Psalm 150:6 will be fulfilled. Every creature will give glory to God and to the Lamb.
For man, this verse is especially searching. If a man has breath, he has reason to praise. Every breath is borrowed from God. Every heartbeat is mercy. Every moment of life is an opportunity to glorify Him.
The final words are “Praise ye the LORD.” The last word of the Psalter is Hallelujah. This is the only proper ending. The Book of Psalms has taught us how to pray in sorrow, confess sin, cry for deliverance, trust God in danger, rejoice in salvation, meditate on His word, wait for His kingdom, and praise Him in all things. It ends with the command that gathers all worship into one word, Hallelujah.
Doctrinal and Practical Summary
Psalm 150 teaches that praise is the final and fitting end of the life of faith. The Psalter passes through every major experience of the godly soul, but it ends in praise.
The psalm teaches that God should be praised everywhere. He is to be praised in His sanctuary and in the firmament of His power. His glory fills creation, and His praise should fill creation.
Psalm 150 teaches that God should be praised for what He has done. His mighty acts include creation, providence, judgment, deliverance, redemption, and most fully the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The psalm teaches that God should be praised for who He is. He is to be praised according to His excellent greatness. His greatness is infinite, unsearchable, and worthy of eternal praise.
Psalm 150 teaches that every fitting expression of worship should be offered to the LORD. Trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, dance, stringed instruments, organs, loud cymbals, and high sounding cymbals all join the praise.
The psalm teaches that worship should be reverent, ordered, joyful, strong, and God centered. The instruments are not for man’s glory, but for the praise of the LORD.
Psalm 150 teaches that everything with breath owes praise to God. Breath is a gift from the Creator, and praise is the proper return.
Finally, Psalm 150 teaches that the ultimate destiny of redeemed creation is Hallelujah. The praise called for in this psalm will be fulfilled when every creature gives blessing, honor, glory, and power to God and to the Lamb forever.
